put the screws on/to (someone or something)

phrase

informal

: to use force or the threat of force to make (someone or something) do what one wants

The government is finally putting the screws to an industry that's been evading environmental laws for years.

Examples of put the screws on/to (someone or something) in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Stars pulled DeSmith with over four minutes left and put the screws to the Ducks six-on-five. — Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 14 Jan. 2026

New York put the screws to its division rival on Tuesday, whacking nine home runs to cruise to a 13-3 victory. — Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025

For example, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration could put the screws to Tesla's efforts to develop Full Self Driving and Autopilot features in its vehicles. — ArsTechnica, 5 June 2025

Fisk himself put the screws to Commissioner Gallo, whom Sheila revealed to have plans to take his case against Fisk to Albany the next morning. — Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 15 Apr. 2025

Unlike Joe Biden, the story went, America’s new president was willing to put the screws to Israel to compel quiet in Gaza and would keep the deal on track. — Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 18 Mar. 2025

Politicians, party hacks, and fat-cat donors hit the panic button and put the screws to Biden to compel him to drop out of the race. — Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 22 July 2024

For four episodes over the past two nights, Rittenmeyer put the screws to Papini. — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019